The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-11
teously given unto them that ask


flrnities." st. Paul also writes the
Collosians In regard to q controversy
they seem to have been In with a sect
OF the Saducees about eating and
drinking: I tell you, brethren, sui.
fer ye no man to judge you what you
shall eat or what you shall drink.
Now, my friends, with all due regard
for the learning, wisdom and piety OF
the many little three.eight by FIVE.
eight preachers who hop down from
their pulpits (the Hottest station Of
many on 10 the hustings, and declare il
the bounden duty OF all Christians to
work and vote for prohibition, /, for
one, much prefer the teaching, ex.
ample aud authority OF the Master and
st. Paul.
"But my friend Thomas says we
don't say men shall not drink; he Ia
begging the question. The idea is to
put 1t cut Of your reach, since in the
judgment OF these latter day saints
you are not deemed capable
Of self.govsrnment. These peo-
pie In demanding legislation upon
this question, from this stand.
point, virtually admit that the Chris
tian religion has failed OF its mission,
and they needs must call In the off
GERS OF the law to Its assistance. |
thank God, however, that such is not
the Gaze. The real trouble rests In the
fact that men are endesvoring to pro.
mote temperance by q different method
from that which the Master be.
queathed the world. Temperance Is
emphatically right, and the misguided
majority OF those favoring this amend.
ment imagine themselves laboring to
that end. 1t Is only few sore headed
politicians who have selfish interests
In view. / warmly favor temperance
myself, aud have for years been an
humble worker in that cause. have
ever found religion and moral euasion
the most effective instruments In the
accomplishment OF The desired end.
II is we'll said that no man should tear
down system, unless ho can build
up q better one. This offer you. Let
the ministers preach and enforce tenn
perance In their churches; let the
church members enforce temperance
In their social relations. For exam pie !:
A young gentleman who drinks to ex.
Gees Is visiting young lady; the father
meets him at the door, and says: 1t
Ia immsterial as to cur high position |;
1t matters not that | like you; you have
an evil habit, and | cannot consist
entity with my ideas OF du'y TO God
and man, allow you TO visit my house.
Suppose mother and daughter empha-
eizs the fathers course-what is the
natural result? Any young mao OF
sense, though hurt, possibly mad for
few days, will, after he cools of, re-
spect that family most highly. Should
this social rule be adopted generally,
the reformation Is effected; for no
man, old or young, who IL worth 70.
clsmstion, will suffer himself to be
ostracised.
80 much from religious aspect.
And sirce our morals are based on the
Bible; since the Master vac, beyond
question, the besl exemplar, The moral
view OF the question at Issue must
stand with the religious.
my friend here tells you that ne re.
CARDS prohibition as q political qnes-
lion and In the same breath boasts oil
his Democracy, attempting TO justify
his position by the declaration tina,
the Democratic members OF the Logic
lature, with the exception OF some five
or six, voted for submission. The fact
that the large me ity Of those m sm
bers are today opposing the measure
is 4 complete answer 10 that, " indeed
answer be necessary. The fact Is the
submission plank In party platform
was eowardly. Ours Is q representa-
tive government, and while the PEG
pie have q right 10 be heard at the
polls, they can generally make theil
wishes known sufficiently through the
election Of representatives, who have
power 10 enact as efficient lava as THU
cham amendment promises. But no
the friends oil the measure are afraid
Of the people. They know that leg
islstiye enactment can he repealed Ia
two years II iouad advisable. they
therefore, are raising hue and CRY
for temperance, quite diff rent from
prohibition, which Is intemperate, and
thus hope to tack the amendment on
to the organic Law 90 shat, however
much harm II may do, II cannot be
char ged or abroga,ed for ten Iona
years.
This theory that you have rlgh. "a
say what your neighbor shall Eat OF
drink 10 subversive IL the very iounda
lions Of cur government. The theory
Ia 10 govern people with the least p 10
sible restraint OF their personal hber
~ consistent with the pubic good.
Hear what the leaders OF Dem G acy
have said upon tbs snbj act: Mr.. JEFF.
ierson, the founder Of free govern.
ment aud the apostle Of Democracy
hes defined the limits OF governmental
power In tlear aud unmislakable
terms. He sAys: Oar leg slHtors arr
not sufficiently apprised OF the rieht
ful limits NJ their power, buttheir true
Office Ia 10 declare aud enforce only
natural rights and duties, and TO take
none Of them from Us. No man has I
natural right 10 commit aggression or
the equal rights Of another, and this Il
all from which the las ought 10 70
strain him. Every man IL under Oh,
natural duty Of contributing TO the
Necessities OF society, and this Is nj
the laws should enforce on him; ant
no man has natural right TO b,
the lodge between himself and an
o.ter. Il Ia bis natural duly 10 sub.
nit 10 the umpirags OF an impartial
third. When the laws have declared
and enforced all this they have ful
filed their functions, and the idea 4
quite uuiounded that on entering Int,
society We give mp our natural right
"Horatio Seymour, a. Governor o
New York, In vetoing prohibition
bill, said: The constitution make
II my duty 10 point out the obi sciion
able features Of this bill, but ! owe I
to the subject aud 10 the friends o
the measure 81 add the expression o
my belief that iniemperance canpo
be extirpated by prohibitory laws
they are aot consistent with sound
principles Of legislation. Like decree
TO regulate religious creeds or form
OF worship, they provoke resistance
when they are designed TO eniorc,
obedience. The effort 10 suppress In
temperance by unusual and arbitrary